Spring striper season has begun!

Spring is upon us and the striper have showed up too! Normally this time of year its slow to say the least, but this is showing signs of possibly being one of the best springs on record. There has been an absurd amount of bait around since mid February. Adult bunker, peanut bunker, monster silversides and even blue back herring have been flooding our bay and rivers. Honestly this is the most bait we have ever seen in our bays this early in the spring. Now these fish aren't migratory. they are our residents. There is an incredible amount around. They are pushing farther and farther into the bay day by day.

River fishing is HOT. Lots of perch and bass up to mays landing on the Great Egg. Boat wise anchoring up at the mouths of the creeks on an outgoing tide with bloods and clams has been the best bet. Lots of shorts but more keepers showing up by the day. While anchored casting soft plastics at the sod banks has been producing as well. Bank fishing with bloods and clams has been the ticket. Less fish on the plastics but still action.

Back bay fishing is really just getting started again. We had the mass temperature drop 2 weeks ago and the bounce back is starting.  The closer you get to the rivers the better. Day time has been mostly a bait bite, Clams and worms. Nighttime the bass have been pushing farther into the bay. Plastics are the hot ticket at night. 3.5, 4 and 5 inch paddle tails seem to be the best. Depending on light around the bridges and piers choose either a white or a natural color. Most fish are towards the surface so bait hasn't really been working as well. Get out there and fish! You can't catch from the couch.

Spotty reports coming in from the inlets, seems to be a day to day fishery on soft plastics. Beachfront we have gotten zero reports. Ocean temp is much colder then the bay. Regardless of the bird action out front on the bunker has been "fishless". Its mainly whales and dolphin chasing the bunker.